Page Links

HARAV HAGAON R. SHLOMO POLACHEK ZT”L
1877-1928

Rabbi
Polachek was born in Sinichinitz, near Meitschet, Grodna. He was
brought to Volozhin before he reached the age of 12. Referred to as the
Meitscheter Illui by Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik zt"l, his bar mitzvah
lecture, which he delivered in the yeshiva, made a memorable impression.
He remained at the yeshiva in Volozhin until it closed in the winter of
1892 then went to learn in Brisk with his mentor, Rabbi Chaim Brisker
zt"l.

Rabbi Polachek remained in Brisk for four years and then transferred
to Yeshivat Knesset YisroeI in Slobodka. Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik said
that in all his life he had never come upon a genius of the measure of
the Meitscheter. Afterwards, he joined a group of specially selected
students in Vilna headed by Rabbi Chaim Ozer zt"l.

In 1905, when the Yeshiva of Lida was founded by Rabbi Yitzchok
Yaakov Reines zt”l, Rabbi Polachek was asked to be a rosh yeshiva, and
he taught Torah there until the outset of World War I. In 1921, he was
accepted as the rosh yeshiva of Tachkemoni in Bialystok.

After a year he received Rabbi Dov Revel's invitation to become a
rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, arriving in
America in 1922. He taught at the Yeshiva for six years and was greatly
revered there. He was also active in the Agudath HaRabbonim of America
and in Ezras Torah.

In 1928 he passed away suddenly. Rabbi Meir Berlin zt”l said that as
great as he was in Torah, Rabbi Polachek stood out seven measures more
in the greatness of his character.